Fair prices for under-18s

Fair prices for under-18s

Founders Sophie and Emily

Our team

“The time has come for young people to stop accepting unfair prices and start fighting for change”

My name is Emily and I’m at college in Nottinghamshire.

It was last autumn, when I first turned 16, that we started to notice pricing had changed. I was suddenly supposed to be an adult or a student (with student ID despite the fact that I was still in secondary school). During holidays, when as a family we’d go out, we’d be told we weren’t eligible for a family ticket any more or that if I wanted a student ticket I’d have to have an NUS card. All of these rules felt annoying when in fact I wasn’t an adult or a student.
What it did do was make me think. Why is this normal? We just accept that this is what companies do – whether they’re trying to make more money or simply doing what all their competitors do.

Either way, the time has come for young people to stop accepting it and start doing something to change it.

– Emily Stott, co-founder

“The struggle for fair fares for under 18s is not just a local matter but a national issue”

Hi, I am a 16 year old student in year 12, currently living in Bedfordshire. I became interested in this campaign after several infuriating experiences at various tourist attractions and with transport companies causing me to desire some drastic change in their ticket pricing.

Fundamentally I recognised that the struggle for fair fares for under-18s was not just a local matter but rather a national issue which I strongly feel needs urgently addressing in order to accommodate the recent change in law which means that young people between the ages of 16-18 must either; remain in education, undertake an apprenticeship or something similar which means that they cannot be full time employed nor are they awarded the opportunities or benefits (notably income) of an adult or the legal status of being an adult. Largely, under-18s are therefore normally required to be reliant upon other adults (parents or guardians usually) financially. Moreover, under 18s do not even have access to the same minimum wage as an adult meaning that even if they are able to have a part time job they will most likely not earn the same for the same work.

My concern for this issue is mostly rooted in my daily commute to and from school which I have been doing for years but the price of my short journey (2 stops, 10 minutes) dramatically increased (+77%) upon turning 16 which led me to question the policies of transport companies and then later tourist attractions. The age of this issue varies widely, some companies even charge an adult fare as young as 12-years-old. Is this a financially independent legal adult?

– Sophie Barber, co-founder

” Just because a family’s eldest child turns 16 shouldn’t automatically mean the family can’t afford a day out to a museum”

Hi, My name is Maddie and I am 16 years old.

One of my main reasons for joining the Childfare campaign team is because of the effect unfair fares for under-18s has on families with tight budgets. Just because a family’s eldest child turns 16 shouldn’t automatically mean the family can’t afford a day out to a museum – but for many that is the reality. For example, at HMS Belfast, two adults and three under-16s can get a family ticket for £38. However, two adults, a 16-year-old, and two under-16’s wouldn’t be able to access the family ticket and would be charged a total of £58 instead – £20 more. Simply because their eldest child has turned 16. For many families, shelling out £38 is a struggle – £58 is simply not possible. It should be made as easy as possible for all young people to access museums and learn about our culture. Instead of creating barriers, we should knock them down.

– Maddie Beestin, campaigner

“I am passionate about ensuring equality of transport fares for Under-18s across the country”

I am an 18-year-old Sixth Former in Newcastle Upon-Tyne. I have been a Member of Youth Parliament since Feb 2015 and a Newcastle Youth Councillor since Oct 2014. This has given me the opportunity to travel to national and international conferences including speaking in the House of Commons. Following a major youth consultation in the city, it was clear that transport costs were a serious issue. I am passionate about ensuring equality of transport fares for Under 18s across the country. Why should a young person be expected to pay an inflated price for the same journey to school or college on their 16th Birthday?

– Emily Dormer, regional representative

“Being charged an adult price when you are legally required to stay in school is simply not right”

Hi. I’m Lydia Stott and I’m 15 years old. I’m passionate about campaigning for fairness, and being part of the Childfare campaign has helped me to see that when things are wrong I can make a difference. Being charged an adult price when you are legally required to stay in school is simply not right, and we can make a difference if we all speak out against it. For one more year I get to enjoy child tickets in many places. I want to make it easier for me and all young people to get the life experiences that businesses and universities are now seeking, without having to pay adult prices.

– Lydia Stott, campaigner

“I’m 15 years old and approaching the age at which I need to start paying adult fares though still attending school”

I am a member of the UK Youth Parliament representing the borough of Slough in the South East. Year after year the issue of transport for young people has been raised as concern by MYPs across the country, which shows its great importance and the effect it has on our lives. I’m 15 years old and approaching the age at which I need to start paying adult fares though still attending school and still with no source of income other than from parents. Why is it assumed that as soon as a young person turns 16, they are now suddenly able to afford a higher priced fare? In November 2016 I raised this issue in the Youth Parliament Debate in the House of Commons in support of it becoming our next national campaign and even though it sadly didn’t win the debate it doesn’t mean we give up! The ChildFare Campaign team will continue to work on campaigning to improve the transport system whilst discussing it with our local MPs.